Jordan Rudek


327 games reviewed
72.5 average score
75 median score
49.7% of games recommended
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9.5 / 10.0 - Killer Queen Black
Oct 10, 2019

If you can get friends together, local or otherwise, you're guaranteed an awesome time. Dynamite with a laser beam, indeed. My mind's already blown.

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8.5 / 10.0 - Reventure
Oct 9, 2019

Those who thrive on finding every little secret and experimenting with all the possibilities a game offers will fall in love. Players looking for a clear, singular objective or a greater amount of complexity may not enjoy what it brings to the table. Its unique approach to endings, storytelling, and world-building make Reventure one of the freshest experiences in recent memory, and for my money it's a plunge that's worth taking.

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Oct 6, 2019

Regardless, I can highly recommend assisting Agent A in her mission as it's a fun distraction that doesn't overstay its welcome. This review will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck, Agent!.

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6.5 / 10.0 - Galaxy Champions TV
Oct 2, 2019

A Champions mode is also available that functions more or less like a simple score attack mode, but the online leaderboards of the Steam version don't seem to be in the Switch version. There are some pretty great twin-stick shooters already on the eShop that I can recommend to everyone, like Assault Android Cactus+. However, Galaxy Champions TV simply doesn't have enough big money and big prizes for me to love it.

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8 / 10.0 - Neo Cab
Oct 2, 2019

At the end of a long shift, Neo Cab's strong writing and effective story-telling make it well-worth hailing.

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While the adventure held my attention for a little while, eventually the backtracking and repetition wore me down. Those looking for a demanding action-platformer with Metroidvania elements may find buried treasure here. Others are just as likely to find Sydney Hunter full of fool's gold.

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8.5 / 10.0 - Plunge
Sep 5, 2019

There are times when the isometric view makes it difficult to navigate the floor tiles around you, especially when you're surrounded by enemies, but this is the only noticeable issue I encountered. Those looking for an easy-to-pick-up title that plays almost like a puzzle game with elements of a roguelike will thoroughly enjoy Plunge, as I did. The cool visuals and challenging gameplay are clear highlights, too. I highly recommend casting aside the shackles of an ever-growing backlog and just taking the Plunge.

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7.5 / 10.0 - VASARA Collection
Aug 29, 2019

For the high-score chasers and shoot em' up fans among us, VASARA Collection delivers a classic experience with some cool features. The customization could definitely be stronger, and the delay on the basic melee attack makes it frustrating to use, but the overall package is pretty compelling. As yet another example of older and possibly forgotten titles getting a second chance on a modern platform, the three Vasara games represent a worthwhile investment, even if they aren't at the top of their class.

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7.5 / 10.0 - Vambrace: Cold Soul
Aug 28, 2019

There are costumes to earn from sidequests and achievements to earn that unlock in-game art, but there's no new game plus to expedite the process. That said, there are a few times when you get to make key decisions that affect the story slightly and reward you with different costumes, so there is some incentive to return. Turn-based RPG enthusiasts and those who wanted more story out of Darkest Dungeon will find a lot to like here, but those who want a more streamlined or directed experience are given the cold shoulder.

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Aug 27, 2019

The addition of "Lost Atlas" in the title attempts to add some mystery and intrigue to Whipseey, but even Kirby would spit this one out.

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5.5 / 10.0 - Eight-Minute Empire
Aug 22, 2019

I., even with a handful of difficulty modes, didn't hold my attention for very long. If you're looking for a board game that's accessible to a fault, you could do worse than Eight-Minute Empire. Fans of the physical version should enjoy this one, but I'm spending those eight minutes elsewhere.

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8 / 10.0 - Oninaki
Aug 21, 2019

Pacing issues and a lack of variety hold it back from being truly great, but Oninaki is absolutely worth a playthrough, if you're not averse to the solemn subject matter. The stellar combat feels almost like hack-and-slash, and the overall story compels you through the experience. If this is the reincarnation of Tokyo RPG Factory, they've come back less a factory and more an artisan.

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6.5 / 10.0 - Forager
Jul 30, 2019

Even though completing achievements (Feats) unlocks extras like comics and a music player, the fact remains that getting to 100 percent completion seems to be the primary objective of the game. Reaching this milestone will take hours and hours of grinding and repetition, so this is a game better played in the background, perhaps while watching TV or listening to a podcast. Ultimately, Forager has potential, but a little more scavenging is needed to take it from an appetizer to a main course.

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Jul 11, 2019

The small tasks on each island can feel like chores after a while, but then suddenly they won't. The neighbors you've been helping all this time will pitch in and divide up larger projects so the burden doesn't fall squarely on your shoulders. You might think striving for the title of Master Builder is all about the monuments and landscape you leave behind, but it's actually just as much about the friends you make along the way.

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Jul 2, 2019

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is a welcome return to the exploration-heavy Castlevania games of the past.

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Jun 29, 2019

Nonetheless, it would have been nice to see a spinoff like Contra Force or even Contra: The Alien Wars for Game Boy rather than the incredibly similar PAL versions we did get. Button remapping is another frustrating omission. Overall, this is a solid collection of classic action games that have enjoyable boss fights and provide a great challenge, but it doesn't feel like a definitive compilation.

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5 / 10.0 - Catan
Jun 24, 2019

Catan on Switch doesn't have that, so unless you really enjoy playing board games against A.I. or have the patience to wait for potentially unsatisfying online competition, you are better off building the largest army or longest road somewhere else.

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7 / 10.0 - Dandy Dungeon
Jun 19, 2019

At the end of the day, your enjoyment of Dandy Dungeon hinges on a few factors: Do you like cute, quirky, and simple RPGs? How do you feel about rogue-lite elements and grinding for items? The unique presentation and charm are definite positives, but the gameplay does become worn out given that you have almost no agency in the dungeons outside of drawing your hero’s path and activating a handful of limited-use items like fireball scrolls, healing potions, and stat buffs.

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6 / 10.0 - Refunct
Jun 6, 2019

The description contains a bullet list of selling points like "Peaceful," "Relaxing," and "Seamless," and it certainly delivers on these promises. The controls feel good, too, with the actual platforming being very forgiving, and there are little collectables you can pick up but to no real end. If you need something to take your mind off a stressful day or an impossible Dark Souls boss, or just as a break between 30-hour RPGs, Refunct might do the trick. Just don't jump in expecting Mirror's Edge or Portal.

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Regardless, much of the content is either repetitive or forced reading, and the story isn't going to win any awards. To enjoy this title, you have to want to spend more time with characters you already know. If you aren't interested in Kirito and Asuna's budding romance or Yui playing the dual-roles of both game guide and in-game daughter, you aren't likely to derive a lot of entertainment from Hollow Realization. There are better action-RPGs on Switch, such as the aforementioned Ys VIII, but certainly none that give the freedom of exploring and interacting your favourite SAO personalities.

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